Title: Unwrapped...Discover the Gift

Scripture: Luke 2:8-20
"“In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: Today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David. This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in cloth and lying in a feeding trough.” Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people He favors! When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the feeding trough. After seeing them, they reported the message they were told about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary was treasuring up all these things in her heart and meditating on them. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had seen and heard, just as they had been told.”
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Discover- to find something or someone unexpectedly or in the course of a search.

The gift is: LOVE, PEACE, HOPE and JOY

ISAIAH 6:1-4
“In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne, and His robe filled the temple. Seraphim were standing above Him; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another: Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Hosts; His glory fills the whole earth. The foundations of the doorways shook at the sound of their voices, and the temple was filled with smoke.”
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John 14:27-““Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Your heart must not be troubled or fearful.”
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Romans 8:37-39-“No, in all these things we are more than victorious through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that not even death or life, angels or rulers, things present or things to come, hostile powers, height or depth, or any other created thing will have the power to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord!”
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Title: We Change...BUT We Won't...

Put these quotes on screen as I read them. Quotes: "Change is inevitable. Growing is optional."


"A year from now you will wish you had started today."


"Change before you have to!"

"When you're finished changing, you're finished"

"The secret to change is not fighting the old but embracing the new!"



Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:19-23. "“Although I am a free man and not anyone’s slave, I have made myself a slave to everyone, in order to win more people. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win Jews; to those under the law, like one under the law — though I myself am not under the law — to win those under the law. To those who are without that law, like one without the law — not being without God’s law but within Christ’s law — to win those without the law. To the weak I became weak, in order to win the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that I may by every possible means save some. Now I do all this because of the gospel, so I may become a partner in its benefits.”
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Quite: "When a church refuses to change, we are in essence embracing mediocrity."

Point #1: We Won't Compromise. (V19-22)

Romans 1:25- "They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served something created instead of the Creator, who is praised forever. Amen

Revelation 14:12- "This demands the perseverance of the saints, who keep Gods commands and their faith in Jesus. "

Point #2: We Won't Concede.
(V.22b). "So that, I may by all means save some!"

Matthew 4:8-10- "“Again, the Devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. And he said to Him, “I will give You all these things if You will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus told him, “Go away, Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve only Him.”

1 Corinthians 16:13-14. "Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. And do everything with love. NLT

Point # 3: We Won't take the Credit.
(V. 23). “Now I do all this because of the gospel, so I may become a partner in its benefits."

John 3:30- "I must become less and less. He must become greater and greater!!

"The entirety of the Bible was written about one man, who was on one mission, who had one purpose and has a desire to save all people"

Title: No Such Thing As a Stingy Giver

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:6-11
“Remember this: The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously. Each person should do as he has decided in his heart — not reluctantly or out of necessity, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make every grace overflow to you, so that in every way, always having everything you need, you may excel in every good work. As it is written: He scattered; He gave to the poor; His righteousness endures forever. Now the One who provides seed for the sower and bread for food will provide and multiply your seed and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way for all generosity, which produces thanksgiving to God through us.”
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Consider This:
Point #1- Either Jesus is first with your money or not first in your life.

Matthew 6:21- "And where your treasure is, there your heart will be also..."

A. Can I afford to give?
B. If I give will I have enough left over to pay my bills?

"If we are giving God what's left, then we are not trusting Him with what should be first!"

C. How will my lifestyle have to change if I begin giving consistently?

"Show me your checkbook register and I will tell you where your treasure is"

D. I already give to charities. Why the church?

Malachi 3:10- Bring the full tenth into the storehouse so that there may be food in My house. Test me in this way, says the Lord of Hosts. "See if I won't open the floodgates of heaven and pour out a blessing for you without measure. "

"Until your wallet is fully surrendered to God your walk with Him will always have a limp" Perry Noble

Consider This: Point #2- The proportion in which we reap depends on the proportion in which we sow!!!

Galatians 6:7 "Don't be deceived, God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows he will also reap...

"As God increased their ability to give, and they increased in generosity, the rewards would increase accordingly"

"Giving is a grace that has reciprocal benefits"

John 2:1-10:
"On the third day a wedding took place in Cana of Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding as well. When the wine ran out, Jesus’ mother told Him, “They don’t have any wine.” “What has this concern of yours to do with Me, woman? ” Jesus asked. “My hour has not yet come.” “Do whatever He tells you,” His mother told the servants. Now six stone water jars had been set there for Jewish purification. Each contained 20 or 30 gallons. “Fill the jars with water,” Jesus told them. So they filled them to the brim. Then He said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the chief servant.” And they did. When the chief servant tasted the water (after it had become wine), he did not know where it came from — though the servants who had drawn the water knew. He called the groom and told him, “Everyone sets out the fine wine first, then, after people have drunk freely, the inferior. But you have kept the fine wine until now.””

Mark 10:42-45: “Jesus called them over and said to them, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles dominate them, and their men of high positions exercise power over them. But it must not be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be a slave to all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life — a ransom for many.””
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POINT # 1: The Natural Response to a Supernatural Invitation

1 John 5:16-17: “Therefore, the Jews began persecuting Jesus because He was doing these things on the Sabbath. But Jesus responded to them, “My Father is still working, and I am working also.””
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"SERVING SHOULD BE THE OUTFLOW FROM THE OVERFLOW"
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POINT # 2: In Our D.N.A.

"Too busy to serve at your local church? FYI: Every Sunday you attend your local church you are served by very busy people. Get involved!"

POINT # 3: Extremely Rewarding

"The Servants See the Miracle"

Title: "WE"...REACH


Reach- Stretch out an arm in a specific direction in order to touch or grasp something or someone.

Evangelism- Zealous advocacy of a cause.

"We cannot possibly be an evangelical Christian or a church if we are not evangelizing. "


Matthew 28:19-20- Jesus said, "Go therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to be end of the age."

Matthew 28:18- Then Jesus came near and said to the disciples, "ALL authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth...verse 19- THEREFORE GO!!!

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:11, 16-21
11- "Knowing then, the fear of the Lord, we persuade people."

16-21: 16 From now on, then, we do not know[a] anyone in a purely human way.[b] Even if we have known[c] Christ in a purely human way,[d] yet now we no longer know[e] Him in this way. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things[f] have come. 18 Everything is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed the message of reconciliation to us. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, certain that God is appealing through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God.” 21 He made the One who did not know sin to be sin[g] for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Point #1: WE ARE COMMISSIONED WITH A PURPOSEFUL PERSUASION.

Quote: William Temple said, "The church is the only cooperative society in the world that exists for the benefit of its nonmembers."

POINT #2: WE PRACTICE THE WAY THAT CORRESPONDS WITH OUR POSITION.

V.17- Therefore if anyone is IN CHRIST, there is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come."

Point #3: WE RECOGNIZE EVERYONES VALUE AND IMPORTANCE.

"We reach because people matter to us and they matter to God!"

God has commissioned Latitude Church and every born again follower of Jesus, TO BE HIS HANDS AND HIS FEET AND TO PROCLAIM THE MESSAGE OF RECONCILIATION!!!!

● For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. -Isaiah 9:6

● The Peace Maker

Today's hashtag is #thepeacemaker.

● The thief comes to steal, kill and destroy. - John 10:10

● Peace is your portion! Peace is your promise! Peace is your prize #thepeacemaker

● AND THERE WAS WAR IN HEAVEN. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. -Revelations 12:7

● If Satan had the audacity to disturb the peace in heaven, find it not strange that he is out to disturb the peace in your home! #thepeacemaker

● But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. Revelations 12:8

● Satan wasn't strong enough back then and Satan isn't strong enough now!

● Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short.” -Revelations 12:12

● Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring—those who keep God’s commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus. -Revelations 12:17

● Don't allow Satan to steal your sunshine!!!

***PLAY THE FRESH PRINCE CLIP HERE***

● He'll make peace with your troubles. #thepeacemaker

● “I have told you these things, so that IN ME YOU MAY HAVE PEACE. In this world you will have trouble. But be of good cheer! I have overcome the world.” -John 16:33

● Satan is the creator of false advertising!!! #thepeacemaker

● Peace I leave with you; MY PEACE I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. -John 14:27

● The world offers you COUNTERFEIT temporary peace while Jesus offers AUTHENTIC eternal peace!!! #thepeacemaker

● Do not be anxious about anything, BUT IN EVERY SITUATION, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God . -Philippians 4:6

● Its time to replace your old addiction of worrying with a new addiction to prayer!!! #thepeacemaker

● It's time to replace your old addiction of stressing & micro managing God with a new addiction of Praising Him!!! #thepeacemaker

● And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will GUARD YOUR HEARTS AND YOUR MINDS in Christ Jesus. -Philippians 4:7

● Above all else guard your heart; because everything you do flows from it. -Proverbs 4:23

● He'll make peace with your storms!!!

● Mark 4:35) As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.”

●Mark 4:36) So they took Jesus in the boat and STARTED OUT, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed).

● Mark 4:37) But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water.

● Mark 4:38) Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?”

● Mark 4:39) When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Peace, Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm.

● Mark 4:40) Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

● Mark 4:41) The disciples were absolutely terrified. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “Even the wind and waves obey him!”

● He'll make peace with the locked areas of your mind.

● On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” -John 20:19

● What do you need to allow Jesus Christ to make peace with?

Title: Home Improvement / A New Wine Skin

Mark 2:22- "And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost as well as the skins. But new wine is for fresh wineskins. "

POINT #1- It's not about WHAT the house is constructed of, but it's about WHO is doing the construction"

Revelation 3:20- "Listen, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and have dinner with him and he with me. "

Philippians 1:6- "I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you (a home improvement) will carry it to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. "


1Corinthians 6:19-20- "Do you not know that your body is a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought at a price; therefore, glorify God in your body."


POINT #2: Before you can re-construct, you have to de-construct!

Mark 2:21- "No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. Otherwise the new patch pulls away from the old cloth, and a worse tear is made. "

POINT #3- Jesus is looking to inhabit new wine skins.

Mark 2:22

Jesus is looking for an inhabitable people that are not satisfied with their current spiritual capacity.

Jeremiah 29:9-10. "Then the Lord reached out His hand, touched my mouth, and told me: I have appointed you today over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and demolish, to build and plant. "

Title: Family Matters / If the Walls could talk!

1 Corinthians 13:1-8 "If I speak human or angelic languages
but do not have love,
I am a sounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
2 If I have the gift of prophecy
and understand all mysteries
and all knowledge,
and if I have all faith
so that I can move mountains
but do not have love, I am nothing.
3 And if I donate all my goods to feed the poor,
and if I give my body in order to boast[a]
but do not have love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient, love is kind.
Love does not envy,
is not boastful, is not conceited,
5 does not act improperly,
is not selfish, is not provoked,
and does not keep a record of wrongs.
6 Love finds no joy in unrighteousness
but rejoices in the truth.
7 It bears all things, believes all things,
hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never ends.
But as for prophecies,
they will come to an end;
as for languages, they will cease;
as for knowledge, it will come to an end.

If Family Matters, then "How" do we make it matter?

Point #1: It's all in the "how" we do it..."LOVE"

John 3:16- "For God so loved....that He GAVE.."

Love defined: To Provide and Protect

Point #2: Stop Over-Reacting!

Show video clip: Family Matters The Crash Course

1 Corinthians 16:14- "Your very action must be done with love."(provide and protect)

2 Timothy 1:7- "For God has not given us a spirit of fearfulness, but one of power, love and sound judgment."

Title: Saved By the Bell: Rapture Ready

Quote: "When Jesus first came to earth, He came as a quiet baby. When Jesus comes back to earth, He will come back as a conquering King!"

The rapture will either: 1-get you excited about meeting Jesus or 2-help you get ready to meet Jesus.

1 Corinthians 15:54b-57
Isaiah 53:4
Isaiah 53:12

Point #1- Stop Relying on the Forecast.
Matthew 24:3-8, 36, 44

"The forecast for the rapture is not in your favor!"

Point #2- Expect the Unexpected
Matthew 24:44
1 Thessalonians 5:6-9

Show video clip here(Jason will give cue)

Point #3- Listen for the Right Bell
1Corinthians 15:51-52

John 10:27

"The trumpet call of God is the sound of purpose, of hope, of deliverance, of inheritance and of promise ...listen for the right bell."

"If you are not excited about the rapture, it may be because you are not ready for the rapture"